Wrong people texted on migrant status

Share via

The text message reads: “Message from the Home Office. Our records show that you may not have leave to remain in the UK"

Jill ShermanWhitehall Editor

Published at 12:01AM, October 19 2013

More than 140 complaints were received by the Home Office after a private contractor sent texts to suspected illegal immigrants questioning their status.

Capita contacted 58,000 people by e-mail, text or telephone between December 2012 and June 2013 to try to establish if they were living in Britain legally, but admitted yesterday that 14 were contacted by mistake.

The text message reads: “Message from the Home Office. Our records show that you may not have leave to remain in the UK. Please contact us on 0844 3754636 to discuss your case.”